Genesis

בייה

The Torah informs us that Joseph’s ten half-brothers were experiencing enormous guilt for the evil they did to him. In a previous discourse, we discussed why Jacob’s ten sons were hesitant to go down to Egypt for grain. In (Genesis 42.1) Jacob said to them, ‘Why are each of you [standing around] looking one upon the other?’ Joseph’s ten half-brothers felt the guilt was like a heavy, dark black shadow cast upon them, following them wherever they went. When they attempted to buy grain in Egypt, they were accused of being spies. Guards detained them for three days. During their detainment (Genesis 42.21 – 22) reveals their guilt. ‘And they said one to another, We are truly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben responded to them, saying, ‘Did I not speak to you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and you would not hear? Therefore, behold, also his blood is required.’ They were involved in kidnapping, imprisoning, and human trafficking of their flesh and blood, Joseph. They were guilty of deception, lying, and covering up their evil. DOES THAT REMIND US OF ANYONE? Now, after more than two decades, their sins were surfacing, i.e., being exposed. (Numbers 32.23) cautions us about sinning against our Lord, saying, ‘Be sure your sin will find you out.’ This is an auspicious time for us to consider our past sins because we are in the midst of the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh HaShana and the conclusion of Yom Kippur.

Rosh HaShana is known as ‘The Day of Judgment,’ ‘The Day of Remembrance,’ The Birthday of The Universe,’ ‘The Day of Blowing the Shofar, and ‘The Day of Forgetting’. Adam and Chavah sinned on the sixth day, were judged, and expelled from Gan Eden. That was the first Rosh HaShana. A few days ago, we Observed Rosh HaShana on Sabbath Day. That was the 5,784th Rosh HaShana from Creation. We have a tradition in Judaism called תַּשׁלִיך Tashlich, which means to cast off [our sins]. On Rosh HaShanna, after Mincha prayer, Jews walk to a river, sea shore, reservoir, lake, or another type of flowing water and say, ‘And YOU [our Lord] will cast all [our] sins into the depths of the sea.’ (Micah 7.19). Tashlich is symbolic of repentance followed by FORGIVENESS. That is the Day of Forgetfulness.

Three areas challenge us.

• First – Like Joseph’s ten half-brothers, each of us battles with our evil inclination. Our evil inclination encourages us to do wrong, then afterward relentlessly haunts and torments us for our past sins.

• Second – Sometimes, we are our own worst enemy. We struggle to put past mistakes away, but they keep popping up. There seems to be no relief from our past mistakes. Why? Our most challenging task is to FORGIVE OURSELVES! Joseph’s half-brothers appear to have never been able to forgive themselves. (Genesis 50.15 – 22) says, ‘And when Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will perhaps hate us, and will certainly pay us back for all the evil we did to him.’

• Third – The people that we have wronged may choose to be unforgiving. Some haunt and torment us. They want their pound of flesh. They keep the fires of torment stirred up. They hit us with pin-point jabs. Still, even though it may be uncomfortable, we need to ask their forgiveness and leave it there. We may be unable to locate them because they may have died or deliberately isolated themselves because it is so painful for them. Horrible memories may haunt them. They may choose not to forgive us. We cannot make them forgive us. Fortunately, our Lord is ALWAYS FORGIVING!! (Ezekiel 33.11) says, ‘As I live, says Lord our Master, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked should שׁוּב [Shoov – to return] turn from his way and live; שׁוּבוּ [Shoo Voo – to return] turn, שׁוּבוּ [Shoo Voo – to return] turn from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?’ Lord, our Master, stated His desire. What did The Creator Say to Cain? The Creator Said, ‘If you improve, there is forgiveness..’ (Genesis 4.7). So we see the plan to receive forgiveness is to simply ‘Improve.’Improving is acknowledging our mistakes, i.e., taking ownership for doing wrong and turning around. Rosh HaShana is about casting off our sins. Yom Kipper / Day of Atonement is a reset. We are realigned. (Sanhedrin 90a) Says, ‘All Israel has a portion in the world to come, For it is written [in Isaiah] Your people are all righteous; They shall inherit The Land forever, [They are] the branch of My planting, the work of My hands That I may be glorified.’ What is the point? We cannot return to a state of perfection that never existed. We were NOT BORN INTO SIN!!

(Genesis 45.5,7, 8) says that Joseph spoke to his half-brothers about their guilt. He said, ‘Now therefore do not be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here; for God did send me before you to preserve life. And God sent me [here] before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; He has made me a father to Pharaoh, Lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.’ In (Genesis 50.19 – 21), Joseph reiterated this again: ‘Joseph said to [his half-brothers], Fear not; for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it to [be for] good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people and to keep them alive. Now, therefore, do not fear; I will nourish you and your little ones. And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.’

Dear Ones, we should feel remorse for our sins, but after observing the tradition of Yom Kippur, we should feel realigned, refreshed, restored, and comforted. May we feel the Creator’s tenderness and love as we conclude The ten days of repentance and enter Yom Kippur. May those who can fast do so successfully. May those who cannot fast for various reasons do what they can to make Yom Kippur meaningful.

Good Sabbath!

Shabbat Shalom!

g’mar chatimah tovah, – A Good Final Sealing – [in the Book of Life for blessings, health, prosperity, kindness, and peace for ourselves and others.]

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

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